FC United To Build New Stadium At Birthplace Of Manchester United In Newton Heath

Source: goal.com

New club putting roots down...
By Zack Wilson
Mar 25, 2010 12:33:00 PM
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Manchester United fans demonstrate against the Glazer ownership (Getty Images)
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FC United of Manchester, the club that grew out of Manchester United fans' protests at the way in which affairs at Old Trafford were being run, look set to begin plans to build a £3.5 million stadium in Newton Heath, the birthplace of the Red Devils.

Manchester City Council have given an 'amber light' to the club's proposals, according to a report from The Manchester Evening News.

FC United were formed five years ago in the wake of the Glazer family's takeover at Old Trafford, and have worked their way up through English football's non-league pyramid since then. They currently play in the Unibond League Premier Division (level seven).

They hope to build the community stadium, with a capacity of 5,000, on council land off Ten Acres Lane. The design is expected to include a renovation of an existing sports centre along with artificial football pitches, and the club hope to move in by 2013 depending on how the planning and building process develops.

The plan will also form part of a more general regeneration of east Manchester that includes the work to be done at the City of Manchester Stadium and the land surrounding it.

FC United have been playing their home games at Bury's Gigg Lane ground, but the £3,000 per match rental has proved a burden on their finances.

The new ground will have a capacity of 5,000, and is set to include facilities that could be used by the wider community seven days a week, including provision for sport, social and even health facilities.